"Noelle." Dad called from somewhere downstairs. I didn't move to meet him, my eyes were caught in a hypnotic trance by the woman on the television. Amazing, to think that 35 years ago there were actors starring in action movies like this. And not getting jumped by a brainless or worse, while on set.
That must have been the life for them. To live freely, and star in popular films. Without the fear of death constantly crawling into your mind at every unknown sound you hear. Watching your back while walking down the street, or hunting through the empty malls for the single hope of food.
And if you're desperate enough, you'll eat anything you find. Even the expired ones. Knowing fully well that they'll upset your stomach, and maybe even kill you, but you just don't want to die from starvation. Then you'll sit somewhere in that mall, crying because there was an insect in the food and you still ate it.
One week later you're convulsing and dying from food poisoning.
My eyes casted over the actors, that life seems so far away. A time where your biggest problem was taxes and a bank robber. I wonder…how it was before the virus.
How my life would have been? I like to daydream.
And her dress is so pretty. The actress spun on her thick heels, nearly falling flat on her face. Somehow her dress remained free of holes.
"Noelle!" Dad called once more, louder and harsher this time. His patience was running thin. Choosing not to upset him any further, I hopped to my feet and raced out of my room. The sound of guns blazing, and a woman screaming for her husband could be heard coming from the television.
I forgot to pause the movie, ah man. I'm gonna miss half of it, and then I'll haven't rewind and try not to look at clips flashing by. That's the hardest task.
I always fail it.
I found my father standing in the hallway leading to the front door, he was just staring at wooden surface like it did something to him. Maybe it did, ooohhh, he should fight it.
On second thoughts, maybe he shouldn't. We need the door for protection.
Dad vs Door, I snorted into a laugh.
"Elle, when did your mother say she'll be back?" His inquiry shocked me. I stopped a foot away from him. A hum filled the silence, it came from me as I thought over his question and how to reply. Mom didn't say anything to me before she left. She just told me, we needed more medicine because Micah was acting strange. That was all I got from her before she left.
Although, I was watching my favorite cartoon. There's a high chance, I wasn't listening and I might not have heard everything.
"She didn't give me a time, dad. But I'm not sure, maybe she did? I was watching my little pony." I told him truthfully. I was raised to never lie to my parents. They protected me, lying could get us all killed.
Not could. Lying CAN get us killed.
A sharp knock came from the door, startling me and my father. Dad leaned towards the peephole, and heaved in relief. Making me relax my stance.
He pulled the locks and bolts out of their places until he could twist the knob and pry the door open. Mom skidded in and dad repeated the motion to the door, but in reverse. Placing all the bolts back.
I caught the faint look of the dimly lit walkway leading up to our house, and the trees scattered around the area. No houses in sight, the stench of rotting corpse was potent in the air.
I've never been outside, I bet the moon looks even better from there than it does through my window. I saw a lady in a movie going star gazing with her lover. How sweet is that? I imagined the exact same scenario now, and I could only see six large beast mauling at their bodies. I have a vivid imagination. It's kind of funny and depressing when you think about then versus now.
Happiness shot through me from seeing my mother kneeling on the carpeted floor. Mom's okay, I thought with a big grin, baring my teeth.
So I can go back to my movi- what is that?
My gaze glued itself to a large gash on my mother's right arm. Red liquid rolled out of it, the smell was revolting. It made my stomach churn, and the urge to throw up filled me.
The exposed flesh appeared to be rotting from the inside, the outer parts of her skin still held blood and normal flesh while the inner was a gross green color. Is something moving there?
Mom got bitten, the words sprang painfully around my head. I quickly ran to hide behind my father's large form.
My mother eyed us both with fear and pain in her eyes. Her face stricken with grief.
"Lucia," Dad's voice trembled, filling with a sad emotion. I watched, not willing to move towards my mother. I'd been taught to avoid anyone that was infected. And they told me anyone, they were not exempted from this. How could she have been bitten? We're careful. We always are. My parents have mapped this place out.
Did something change? Someone give me answers.
She fell to her knees, sobbing. Hot tears poured down her pale cheeks, and my heart broke into a million pieces. "I'm sorry, Shaw, I shouldn't have come back here. But I was so scared of dying without seeing you guys one last time. I'm so sorry, Noelle. Please forgive mommy, I've ruined our lives. I love you so much, baby, I couldn't stand not seeing you again." Her tears turned into a wince as her arm twisted itself to her back. My heart lurched in the cavity of my chest, watching as the arm continued to bend like it had a single mind of its own.
What is happening?
Dad turned to me, his eyes wide as he gripped my shoulders hard enough to sting. "Noelle, run. I'll get you some supplies. You run. If she got infected and she's transforming this fast then she's going to become a brainless. That doctor guy said so." I froze, hearing the word brainless sent fear to my bones, keeping them as still as a statue. A brainless?
That's how dad's brother died. They used him for lunch.
There's a reason I was never allowed to step foot outside.
Dad yelled his frustration, grabbing me by the arm and yanking me up stairs. My foot tumbled over the steps, gashing my knee against a sharp open wood.
I bit back my pain, the splinter dug deeper into my skin, and got my feet moving to avoid another injury.
I heard a wail coming from the hallway and the sound of something cracking. It sounded painful, I can't imagine how much she's suffering right now. Tears wet my eyes as my father scurried around to gather as much supplies as he could get for me.
One question plagued my mind, and I had to ask it. "Why aren't you coming with me?" He said I had to run. Why me only? Why isn't he coming with me? I've never been outside. I can't survive on my own. I don't know how to cook. How to fight. Or even how to navigate to a safe spot.
I don't know anything! I'll be dead in only one minute of being on my own.
But maybe, maybe I could survive if he came with me.
He stopped, but only for a second before returning back to shoving things into a duffle bag. "I need to be with your mother." He said in a hoarse tone.
I wanted to argue that it would be much more dangerous for me to be out there in that barbaric wasteland all by myself than in here. It would be pointless, I can see his decision has been made.
Once he was done, he pulled me back downstairs, mother laid there in the hallway. Back arched, and skin turning grey. Her hair was falling out and forming a pool beneath her feet. Her body grew in lengths, fingernails turned to claws, and her neck stretched out. Extending longer than what was considered normal. Her body followed next. Her arms, and legs, they grew longer. My mother is of a short stature, this thing is tall.
Ten feet. That's what the doctor said.
Dad forced the back door open with his shoulder, we've never used it. The sound of the wood smacking against the side of the wall will no doubt draw the attention of any brainless nearby.
Dad always kept it sealed because it was apparently more risky to go through the path there. He's not thinking straight if he wants me to go by myself.
At night.
Where would I even go? I'm only ten, I'll be dead in no time. I have no way of defending myself. I don't think my noodle arms will do much damage, and I doubt I can run faster than those who are infected.
"Da-dad, I can't-"
He shushed me with a stern look. "I'll be damned if I let my wife eat my daughter. You run, you take Micah. She's a great dog. You run, and you never come back here. You hear me honey? Run." Just as he said that, a loud growling howl fled in from the somewhere in the house. Blood drained from my face. The noise was blistering in my eardrums, it was animalistic. Like a beast gaining its freedom.
I couldn't argue this time, I whistled for Micah. She always slept in the kitchen. The big golden retriever woke up, frightened by the noises. I tapped my thigh, and slipped into the shoes I saw there. They were mine from a year ago, I don't go out so I stopped asking for more shoes.
Crashing sounds were made, and I didn't look back to see what was heading towards us. I did what dad had asked, and I bolted.
"I love you Noelle." I heard him shout, increasing the cuprous sum of tears that painted my face. "You live for your mother and I." Those words hurt more than they should have. The sound of the door clicking shut was muted by the heavy thumping of my heart against my ribs. I turned once to see if Micah was following me, and thankfully she was. The back area is bushy, and it's so dark I can barely see where I'm going. The moonlight is the only thing that helps. It's my flashlight.
I kept bounding through the thick mass, trying to find an opening. Something. A bicycle maybe.
An ear shattering wail filled the silence of the night. Frightening the birds, silencing the crickets. It sounds like someone was in intense agony. No, it sounds like my father! It won't be long before other brainless around the area hear the noise and come looking for something to eat.
I have to get out of here before they show up.
Micah and I finally found the open oath we were looking for, a road. I looked to the left, nothing for miles. Not even a vehicle. And then my head twisted to the right, also nothing. Micah barked for me to make a decision, and I did.
I chose in a haste. Does it really matter what path I choose? I know something will kill me in no time, I can guarantee it.
"Come on girl." My pulse raced and feet picked up on speed, going as fast as my legs could take me. My right knee was twinging with pain from the injury it had sustained but I paid no mind to it. Tears hadn't stopped their flow from my eyes.
No less than an hour ago, I was excited to finish a movie.
And now, I don't have parents anymore. I don't know what will happen to dad. Will mom eat him? Has she already eaten him?
If he survives being eaten then he's going to turn into a brainless, that's the way that works.
Oh god, what am I going to do without them?
/15 YEARS LATER/
Sunlight danced into my room, casting a hard glare at my face. The window didn't prevent it from reaching me, I'll have to put some more planks over it. My bones ached as I pushed up to sit with my back resting against the headboard. My toes wiggled under Micah's belly, giving her a little rub. She's getting older, grey color joined the golden shine of her fur. She'll be gone soon and I'll be alone.
She should be gone, I don't know how long dogs live but it shouldn't be this long. Or maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this is how long a dog's lifespan lasts.
I allowed myself to suck in a deep breath, like I do every morning, before sliding out from under the covers. I grabbed the twelve gauge shotgun sitting by the door to my room.
Every morning, I scan the whole house to make sure no one snuck in by accident. And every evening I did the same before going to bed. This small bungalow is all I have, I can't lose it. Finding a home in this world is easy, if you're in a pack. And packs don't take the non-infected.
They kill them, or turn them. Those are your two options. Death or infection. Such great luxury.
I did a sweep over the kitchen, seeing something much worse than an intruder in my home. An empty room. The cupboards, cabinets, and fridge are devoid of all supplies. I'll have to leave the house to get food, and medicine for Micah. Shit.
"When did we eat everything?" I voiced this question. Hearing how small my voice was as it resounded back to my ears.
I continued my search, choosing to ignore the crippling fear that always entered my skin whenever I thought of going outside. Today I don't have much of a choice, I need new batteries for the generator if I'm still going to get more power and clean water, I might as well get food on the way.
A sigh left me once I returned back to my room, Micah hadn't moved from her spot. I dropped the gun safely on my drawer, clicking the safety back into place. My bare feet felt the cold tiles. I squatted next to the edge of the bed, stroking Micah's fur.
She turned, peeking one eye open at me. The lid slipped back close without force.
"It's okay Micah, you've got a couple more years in you. I'm sure you do. I don't know really. Let's just cross our fingers and have some hope."
Truth is, I have long lost hope. I'm not a veterinarian, I know nothing about canines, but if I let her and myself believe we won't be separated anytime soon then maybe, just maybe, I won't feel it when she's actually gone.
The keyword being maybe.